Selvage guiding and drying apparatus



May 6, 1952 J. DUNGLER 2,595,233

SELVAGE GUIDING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1950 2 SHEETS--SHEETl I i WM! /96 May 6, 1952 J. DUNGLER SELVAGE GUIDING AND DRYI NGAPPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I 'atented May 6, 1952UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce SELVAGE GUIDING AND DRYING APPARATUS ulienDungler, Basel, Switzerland Application February 17, 1950, Serial No.144,695

- The present inventin relates to an apparatus for treating, inparticular drying, the selvedge or like border edges of sheet or webmaterials in a continuous operation and as the material passes throughthe apparatus.

- A primary object of this invention is to provide means affordingadaptation of the apparatus of the aforesaid type to any changes inthelocation or extent of the selvedge and automatic adjustment of thetreatment zone of the apparatusto such changes so as to insurecontinuity of treatment. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide means orienting thetreatment or heating element or elements along which the treatment zoneextends so that the treatment element will remain in operativeengagement throughout its entire length, with one or both opposite edgesof the material to be treated, as the case may be,.even whilesubstantial variations in the width and/or position of the materialoccur.

A further object of the invention is to provide means enabling thetreatment element to follow and assume a position parallel to orcommensurate with the edge or edges of the material to be treated evenwhen the latter is inclined with respect to the direction of movement ofthe sheet or web material.

Still another object of the invention is to providemeans renderingworking condition and function of the apparatus inoperative whenever thedisplacement or adjustment of the treatment elementvor elements tends tobecome excessive and threatens the orderly functioning of-the apparatus;

' Yeta further object of the invention is to provide means controlling.the power supply of the apparatus so that the latter will be arrestedwhenever the configuration of the edge of the web material undertreatment necessitates entirely difierent working conditions of theapparatus than those for which the latter has been initially set; i

11 The'invention is particularly, though not exclusively, applicable toapparatusfor drying the selvedges of apretreated fabric material tofacilihtatef engagement thereof by tentering clips during-a'subsequenttreatment.

specification. ""The apparatus according to the inven is described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

s 12 Claims. (01. 34-48 2 V I v Fig. 1 is a front elevation of anapparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l; t

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the limitswitch and follower means; and

vFig. 4 is a detail view of a switch forming part of the follower means.7

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 .of the drawings,thereis disclosed an apparaQ- tus I0 comprising two standards I la, IIbbetween which extends a set of spaced rollers I2, I3, I4 and I5journaled on these standards. A web of cloth material I6 passes aroundthe first roller .I 2', subsequently around a weight roller I! to keepsaid material in desired tension, thereafter over rollers I3, I4 andfinally along rollers I5, as indicated by the arrows A in Fig. 2. Inorder to maintain the roller I] in its horizontal position,

the same is floatingly supported at its ends by two endless transmissionmeans I811, [8b which pass around'pulleys I911, Ilsa and [9b, II9b,respectively, the pulleys I911, I922 being fixed on a shaft I9 and thepulleys IIQa, II 9 b being fixed on a shaft H9 for simultaneousrotation.

The left-hand standard I la, has secured thereto an upper bracket 2.0a,a lower bracket [20a and a platform 2 la on which latter rests amotor22a; similarly, the right-hand standard ,IIb-has secured thereto anupper bracket 20b, a lower bracket I2Bb and a platform 21b with a motor21) resting on the latter. The brackets 20a and Zilbare interconnectedby a pair of parallel rods 23,24 which attheir center support a block25;

inanalogous manner the bracketsl20a and [20b are interconnected by apair of parallel rods I23, I24 which at their center support a blockI25.

Lodged in the upper left-hand bracket 20a and in the upper block 25 is athreaded spindle 26a which passes through and meshes with an internallythreaded slide 21a displaceably supported on the rods 23, 24; similarly,there is lodgedpin the lower left-hand bracket I20a and in the lowerblock I25 a threaded spindle I26a which passes through and mates with aninternally threaded slide I2'Ia displaceably supported on the rods, I23,

The arrangement on the right-hand side of the apparatus is identical,with a spindle 26b lodged in bracket 2% and supportedin block 25. whilethreadedly engaging. a slide 21b, and with: a'spin-, dle [26b lodged inbracket I2flb and in block.I25 while threadedly enga'ginga slide I211).The free, outer end ofeach spindle 2611,2612, 126a and 12Gb carries apair of pulleys 28a, 29a; 28b, 29b;/I2.8d,

ly rotatable thereon and may be selectively coupled to the spindle by amagnetic clutch generally indicated at a, 30b, I39a and I302),respectively, details of which will be described in connection with Fig.3.

When the motor 22a is energized, the outer pulleys 28a and HM arerotated in afirst direction (e. g. clockwise and counterclockwise,respectively, as viewed in Fig. 2) by means of a pulley 3Ia and a belt32a having one cross-over point,

while the inner pulleys 29a and llilaaredriven in the opposite direction(e. g. counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively) by means. of apulley 33a and a belt 34a having two cross-over points. The arrangementon the right-hand side; of the apparatus is analogous and includes motorpulleys 3Ib, 33b and belts 32b, 3411.

Associated with the selvedges IIBa, IIGb of the endless cloth materialI6 are treatment elements 35a, 3512, respectively, each elementconsisting essentiallyof an inwardly open, elongated drying channelprovided with heaters, such as indicated b'y'numerals 36a, 3l'a- (Fig.2) adapted to lie on and cover opposite sides of the-cloth material whenthe respective selvedge passes through the channel. Each drying element35a, 35b is provided at its lower end with a lug- I39a, I391),respje'ctively,v pivoted at I3Ba, I382) to respective lov've'r slides-I2 'Ia, I2'Ib. On its upper end the drying elements are providedwithlugs 38a, 39b, respectively, having each an elongated slotengaged-bya pin 38a; 38b extending from the slides 2 l a g 2lb-,respectively.

Also-secured to each-of the slides 27a, 21b, I2la, l-2;'Ib is arespective bracket 43a, 40b, Idila, I482) carrying a shoe Ma, Mb, I4Ia,I4Ib displaceable relative-thereto by means of a-hand-wheel 42a, 4217,2a. I42b,respectively. Each of these shoes c'arriesa follower membercomprising a base 43a, 43b, I43a, I43b, respectively, to which there isresiliently secured apressure foot 44a, Mb, I440: and} IMb for yieldablyholding thecloth IS in contact-with-the base. Each follower memberincludes a feelerarm 45a, 45b, Mia and I45b, respectively, adapted to beengaged by the selvedge of th'ecloth-and to be displaced by itcommensurate with its changes in the selvedge, as moreclearly-apparent'from Figs. 3 and 4.

Fixed to the-rods 24 and I24,externally of the slides'il 21b and-I21a,I2'Ib, are fouridentical limit'switches-46a,-46b, I-46a and I462)adapted to cooperate with the associated slides as will be more" fullydescribed in'connection with-Fig. 3.

It will thus be seen-that theapparatus. Ifl com-.

prisesfour identical controllers whichconsist of clutches'30a, 30b, I30aand I381), followermembers-43a, 43b, I-43a and I43band limit. switches43a, 46b, MSa and'HSb, respectively.

The circuit shown in Fig. 3 comprisesa number of elements commontothe-four controllers. re-. ferred to, including a transformer andrectifier unit a start relay-48, astop relay 49, a1s'tart button I 48and a stop buttonv I49.

A. source 50' of alternating current; supplies power, viathe transformercircuiti'ua. to a-.-pos'i-.. tive bus bar 5i and a negative bus bar 52.Also shown in Fig. 3, byway of example, are the spindle26a with itsassociated clutch 39aand'pulleys z-sa, 29a, the follower 43a with itsfeelerarm 45a, and the. limit switch 46a cooperating with slide 21a. Theselvedge IIBa is in contact with feeler arm Haas-previously explained.

Turning to Fig. 4 for adetailed description of thefour identicalfollower members I (here. themember.-43b)., itwill be. seen that thearm.45b

carries a movable contact 53b adapted to cooperate with either of twostationary contacts 54b, 55b positioned on opposite sides thereof. Arm45b is pivoted to the base 431) at 56b and is biased by a spring 51btoward engagement of its contact 531) with the stationary contact 54b.

The selvedge IIEb, on the other hand, bears upon and slidably engagesthe arm 45?) so as to limit the displacement of the latter by thespring57b and, under certain conditions subsequently pointed out,-to swingthis arm about its pivot 56b for engagement of contact 53b with contact55b. The corresponding contacts of follower 43a are shown in Fig. 3 at53a, 54a and 551;, respectively.

Thelimit switch 46a (Fig. 3), has two stationarycontacts, 58a and 5911,a movable armtfla and a pair of movable contacts Bla, 62a carried on thearm Gfia. A spring 6311 urges the arm 60a toward theslide 21a and towardengagementof contact BZIrwith contact 59a. When,.however. theslideila.bears upon the projectingend of, arm 68a, under conditions that .willsubsequently become apparent, contacts 59a, 62a are broken andcontactsjfla, BIa become engaged to establish a circuit, as will belater described.

Theciutch 3iia comprises a pairof solenoids 63a, 640. provided with sliprings 55a,..66a.an d 61a, 88a, respectively, forming. part of theirlie-.- spectiveenergizing circuits. Thetwo solenoids act upon a collar69a, slidably keyed to the spindie 26a, whichcarries a disk armature10a. The two pulleys. 28a,.29a are provided with solenoid cores 7 Id,52a facing the disk 10a. thedisk'being normally spaced from. thesecores. unless said diskis drawn. toward one. or the. other of. thepulleysupon the energization of. the. respective solenoids. Asabo've.pointed out the two. pulleys rotate in opposite directions; accordingly,energization of one or the other solenoid 63a--'Ila; or Ii4al'2av willresult in the rotative entrainment of. disk 18a and spindle 26a in oneor the other direction.

Feeler arm 4.5a is connected to the positive bus bar 5|, in parallelwith the other feeler, arms; by way of the front contact of the upperarmature of start relay 48. This relay has an energizing circuitleadingiromthe positive bus bar 5I over its winding and conductor 73' tostart button I48, thence viacontacts 59a,.62a.of thelimit switch. 46a;and corresponding contacts of the other limit switches in seriestherewith toythe nega' tivebus' bar 52.

Stop relay 49 has an energizing circuitleading from the positive busbarSI over; conductor 14. stop button M9; winding of relay 69 to negativebus bar 52.v The stop button I49 is shunted by'a circuittraceable frombus bar 5| over the upper armature of relay i8, feeler arm-45a,contacts5-3a and-55a, contacts 58a and fila to the winding of relay 39.

The center armature of relay 48 serves to estab: lish. a lockingcircuit. for the latter over the armature and back contact'ofrelay 49,while. the lower. armaturev of relay 48 .closesa circuit for energizingthe feed motor (nOtqShOWIUf to ad. vance the cloth material IGzwhenthis. relay is energized. The. rings 65a and 51a :are; connected tothenegativebus bar 52, as; shown; rings 66a and 68a: are. connected tostationary contacts 5% and 55a, respectively, of the follower; member43a.. Y

The operation of the arrangementdescribejd above is. as follows:

When the. start button I481: ismomentarily pressed, relay 48 isenergized in thecircuitapreyie ously traced and looks over the armatureand back contact of relay 49.

Power is supplied to the feed motor and also to motors 22a, 22b whichmay be connected in parallel therewith or, if desired, may becontinuously and independently energized. At the same time the feelerarm 45a (and the corresponding arms of the other follower members) isconnected to potential at the upper armature of relay .48. It has beenassumed that the limit switch 46a remains neutral, its contacts 59a, 62abeing normally closed. The same is true of the other limit switches4622,1461: and I46b, this being a necessary prerequisite for theoperation ofthe start relay 48.

As long as the selvedge HBa maintains the feeler arm 45a in such aposition as'to keep its contact 53a out of, engagement with either ofthe contacts 54a and 55a, no further change will take place in thecircuit of Fig; 3 as the selvedge of the advancing fabric passescontinuously between the heating coils or means 36a and 31a of thetreatment or drying element 35a, this being the position illustrated onthe left-hand side of Fig. 1 and in solid line on the right-hand sidethereof.

Under these conditions both selvedges of the fabric material will remainoperatively engaged with the respective drying elements 35a, 35b and thetreatment will proceed in a continuous manner and operation. If it bedesired to stop the operation of the machine for some reason, actuationof the stop button I49 will momentarily energize stop relay 49, therebybreaking the holding circuit of start relay 48 and de-energizing thefeed motor. It is also contemplated by this invention to cut offsimultaneously. the circuit for the heating means.

Let us assume, however, that the width of the advancing fabric I6 issubject to change, as indicated in dot-dash. lines in Fig. 1. Thus, ifselvedge llBb starts to recede, spring 51b (Fig. 4) is enabled to closethe circuit through contacts 53b and 54b by swinging the arm bcounterclockwise. This will immediately energize one of the solenoidsofclutch 30b, resulting in a rotation of spindle 261) so as to displacethe slide 21b towardthe left (Fig. 1), this movement in turn entrainingthe follower 43b as well as the upper end portion of drying element orchannel 35b.

In analogous manner the lower end of the channel 35b will be displacedwhen the discontinuity in the selvedge l [6b reaches the follower 43b,so that this channel or treatment element will be caused to assume thedot and dash line position indicated in Fig. 1 registering with theparticular configuration or inclination of the edge of the cloth. Hadthe width of the cloth material increased instead of decreased, theother solenoid of clutches 30b and [38b would have been energized, thusresulting in an outward displacement of the slides 21b and IZlb.

The energization of these solenoids will be clearly apparent from Fig. 3from which it will be seen that engagement of contact 53a with contact54a closes the circuit through solenoid 63a|la while engagement ofcontact 53a with contact a closes, however, the circuit throughsolenoids Met-42a.

If, on account of inertia, the follower overshoots the point in whichits feeler arm is just centered with respect to the associatedstationary contacts, the direction of rotation of the spindle will bereversed and the controller will "hunt until the correct: position hasbeen. reached. 7111 extreme cases, this hunting" may carry some or moreof the slides, say, 21a, into a position in which it engages the switcharm 68a of the asso, ciated limit switch 46a.

This will break the energizing circuit of start relay 48 but, since thelatter is locked, nothing further will happen since under suchconditions the contact 53a will not-be in engagement. with contact 55a,relay 49 thus remaining unoperated. If, however, the actuation of thelimit switch has been due to an excessive widening ofthe fabric or otherdisturbing causes resulting in an outward displacement of the selvedge6a beyond ac-predetermined limit, such actuation of the. limit switch46a will coincide with the feeler arm 45a occupying an extremeoff-normal position, .so that the relay. operates in the .circuitpreviously traced which includes the contacts 53a, 55a*-o the followermember and the contacts 5811, 6; of the limit switch.

The release of the start relay .48 thereupon stops the feed motor andremoves potential from the feeler arm 45a, thus de-energizing thesolenoid 64a and arresting the spindle 26a. Because the starting circuithas been opened at contacts 59a, 62a, actuation of start button I48 willbe without effect until the operator has corrected the work-.- ingcondition and situation giving rise to the interruption. z

It should benoted that the invention is capable of numerousmodificationsand adaptations witlr-'v out exceeding its scope. Thus it will bepossible to provide additional limit switches, similar to theswitches'46a, 46b, [46a and I46b, positioned so as to prevent excessiveinward displacement of the drying elements 35a, 35b and associatedparts; in order to guard against possible damages to the machine intheevent the start button I48 is actuated with no web material IS inplace.

Such a switch, which in analogy with the foregoing description may bearranged to become operative only upon the feeler arm occupying aposition such as to tend to displace the associated slide toward thecenter (the position illustrated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 4, with-thefeeler arm 45b engaging contact 54b), could also-operate to stop thefeed motor (and, if desired, the motors 22a and 22b), thus preventinguseless power consumption by these motors. i

It may also be mentioned thatpif interruption of the feeding movement bymeans of the limit switches is not necessary or desired, there ma y beprovided individual start and stop relays, such as 48 and 49, for eachlimit switch and follower member, soithat each clutch mechanism will'b'einactivated only when the particular selvedge engaged by the associatedfeeler arm moves out of bounds.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus for continuously treating an edge of an advancing webmaterial, in combination, a treatment element engageable with said edge,actuating means operable to displace said treatment element, andfollower means controlling said actuating means to maintain saidtreatment element engaged with said edge upon displacement of thelatter, said follower means including a feeler member in contact withand displaceable by movements of said edge.

2. The combination according to claim 1. wherein said follower meanscomprises spring i an edge of an advancing web material, incomehination. ;a treatment element engageable with said..edgc, first drivemeans adapted .to displace said-treatment element toward said edge,second drive means adapted to displace said treat:- ment element awayfrom said edge, said treatment element -being normally disengaged fromboth of said drive means, coupling means so,-

decti-yeIy operable to. engage said treatment ele- ,ment with either .ofsaid drive means, thereby displacing said treatment element in arespective direction. and follower means-mechanically con.- wpledwithsaid treatment element for simultaneous displacement, said followermeans includeinga first and -.a second set of contacts, a feeler memberhaving :a first :position in which .said nrstzset of contacts areclosed, thereby actuating said coupling means to engage said treatmentelement with said second drive means, and a third position intermediatesaid first and second positions in which neither of said sets of con.-:tacts :a-ne closed, thereby maintaining said treat.- .ment elementdisengaged from both of said drive means, said :feejler member "beingengages able by said edge and displaceable thereby ,torwardisaid Secondposition, said follower means :being wproyided with spring -means urgingsaid feeler :member toward said first position, saidieeler:memloer:beingi aligned with said treatment element :to maintainthe latter in operative en.- ,gaeement with saidiedge when the ,feelerelement is ;held in said intermediate position by contact with saidedge.

'7. The combination accordingto claim ineluding i im t witc 'imeans oprable to disable sa d coupli g insa e on said eatment e em m ireachine etreme pos t on an said Jeiele membe s m aneous o cup ng a p siementberonsaidnre te mined pos t o viticnsurh as toitendt d ive sa d eatm ieler.8. The combination according to claim '7, wherein said limit switchmeans operates to stop'the advance of said material simultaneously withdisabling said coupling means.

9. In an apparatus for continuously treating an edge of an advancingcloth material, in com; bination, an elongated treatment element en,-gageable with a predetermined length of said edge, first actuating meanscoupled with one end of said treatment element and operable :to dis:

a place said one end, second actuating means .cou:

pled with the other end of said treatment element and operable todisplace said other end. first follower means controlling said firstactuating means to maintain said one end engaged with said edge upondisplacement of .the latter, said first follower means including afirstfeeler {meme ber connecting said edge adjacent said one end anddisplaceable by the movement of said edge. and second follower:meanscontrolling said seclond actuating means :to maintain said otherend engaged with said edge upon displacement of .the latter, said secondfollower means including a second vfeeler member contacting said edgead,- jacent said other end and .displaceable by move: ment of said edge.

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said firstand secondfollower members are mechanically coupled with said one .end and saidother end of said treatment element-respectively, for simultaneousdisplacement.

11. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said treatment elementcomprises a .U.- shaped channel for receiving said edge, and heatermeans within said channel.

2. "The combination according to claim 11, wherein said heater meansincludes .a pair of elongated heating elements positioned on oppositesides of said edge within said U -shaped channel.

JULIEN DUNGLER.

REFERENCES ,CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,391 Nelson et a1. Aug. ,8, 11944

